dmr001 writes: "In its fortnightly Communicable Disease newsletter, Oregon Public Health officials note increasing cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in infants, with 146 hospitalizations noted in the 2 year period ending March 2011, and at least 4 deaths since 2003. Most cases are attributed to lack of vaccination, with 86% of those due to parents declining the vaccine. "Most of our cases are occuring in under- or unvaccinated children, so getting these kids vaccinated seems to the most obvious approach to reducing illness. In priciple... pertussis could be eradicated; but we have a long way to go.""